Yay for pink glitter Le Creuset Spatulas!

Yeah, we got some in at Kitchen Art and I couldn't help myself. Anywho. Went home the other day and got to spend time with my parents, which was nice. What else? Getting ready to go to work at Starbucks. Can't wait til Saturday for Abby's wedding! Seems there is too much else going on for me to remember to write about.

Much Love!

I had a good title in my mind earlier and I was like, I'll remember it, but looks like I forgot. Oh well.

Just got back from Pepe's with Hillary and Lee. It was a good time and as always, interesting times abound with the servers there. This time it seemed our server didn't have much of an attention span. My favorite part was when she asked us if we needed boxes (I never do) and Lee said no and Hillary was thinking about it and was about to answer and our server walked away. We were like, "Wha happened?" But ya. I love Lee and Hillary very much and I know both of them are having huge things happen in their life and I want nothing but the best for them and of course to always be friends with them. Sorry if this sounds cheesy, but there it is. And if it isn't known, the same goes for all of my other friends who are making big decisions soon and also taking on new and exciting and perhaps scary things. I really do love you all very much and you are all in my heart=)

Last night I went to a reading at the Bookstall in Hicks with Lisa. Charles Baxter was the author and it was really good. I fell in love with a couple, kept checking out this hot guy that is in Lisa's class, and heard some really good stories. And I must mention that Sean Connery, or so I thought was there, but if you want to know more about that, just ask me in person. And then later Lisa and I ate at Moe's...yum! and then we hung out for a bit after.

Good day at work at today. I got to see Benjamin Vanlaningham chatted a little bit which was nice and also got to see Ben Langel. Also had some other surprises, but it was/has been a very good day. Anywho. I am running out of time here and running out of interesting things to say.

Much Love!

Chapter I

The Twin-Verses

All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.

All that we are is the results of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

"He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me" - in those who harbor such thoughts hatred will never cease.

"He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me" - in those who do not harbor such thoughts hatred will cease.

For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love - this is an old rule.

The world does not know that we must all come to an end here; but those who know it, their quarrels cease at once.

He who lives looking for pleasures only, his senses uncontrolled, immoderate in his food, idle, and weak, Mâra (the tempter) will certainly overthrow him, as the wind throws down a weak tree.

He who lives without looking for pleasures, his senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong, him Mâra will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain.

He who wishes to put on the yellow dress* without having cleansed himself of sin, who disregards also temperance and truth, is unworthy of the yellow dress.

But he who has cleansed himself from sin, is well grounded in all virtues, and endowed also with temperance and truth: he is indeed worthy of the yellow dress.

They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in truth, never arrive at truth, but follow vain desires.

They who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth, arrive at truth, and follow true desires.

As rain breaks through and ill-thatched house, passion will break through and unreflecting mind.

As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind.

The evil-does mourns in this world, and he mourns in the next; he mourns in both. He mourns and suffers when he sees the evil result of his own work.

The virtuous man delights in this world, and he delights in the next; he delights in both. He delights and rejoices, when he sees the purity of his own work.

The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he suffers in the next; he suffers in both. He suffers when he thinks of the evil he has done; he suffers more when going on the evil path.

The virtuous man is happy in this world, and he is happy in the next; he is happy in both. He is happy when he thinks of the good he has done; he is still more happy when going on the good path.

The thoughtless man, even if he can recite a large portion of the law, but is not a doer of it, has no share in the priesthood, but is like a cowherd counting the cows of others.

The follower of the law, even if he can recited only a small portion of the law, but, having forsaken passion and hatred and foolishness, possesses true knowledge and serenity of the mind, he, caring for nothing in this world or that to come, has indeed a share in the priesthood.

*The distinctive garment of the Buddhist priests.

From Wisdom Of The Buddha, The Unabridged Dhammapada. Translated and Edited by F. Max Müller. Dover Publishing, 2000.

(yeah I know I didn't use the proper format for citing the book, but this isn't for a grade or for anything professional, so I just want to give credit where credit is due =Þ)

The Four Qualities Of A Pure Mind

Metta - Selfless Love
Karuna - Compassion
Mudita - Sympathetic Joy
Upekkha - Equanimity

Okay, so this is like the third time that I have come here to blog seriously, but now I don't seem to have the patience to do so. Anyways. I am seriously thinking about moving next year. I am ready to move and start a new part of my life, but more about that some other time. My choices are as follows, at least right now.

1. Chicago (lots of reasons)
2. Austin, TX (music is one reason)
3. Asheville, NC/Portland, ME
4. Atlanta, GA

Each offers a good source of shopping/restaurants for vegetarians, good running paths, and I've heard good things about all of them. But I will be doing more research of course=)

What else, I have been thinking more of the kind of person I am and what kind of ppl I want to have around me in my life and so I have been thinking of that the past few days. I am sure more is to come about this subject later. But ya.

What else? I have a book overdue...boo. But that is okay, I really like the book (the Dhammapada) and so I will prob just buy my own copy for a few bucks. It's great!

Looking to go to a meditation course here soon when the new year rolls around.

Also, my friend Justin is getting married, yay!

Much Love to all!

The Noble Eightfold Path

Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Awareness
Right Concentration
Right Thought
Right Understanding

Much Love!

Okay, so the spam blog commenting is lame. Seriously, as if we don't have enough advertising and such brought to our attention everyday. But I guess it was just a matter of time before it got here. It just bums me out because I get all excited to see who left a comment. Ah well.

So I thought I would blog today, but seems I am not in the mood. So I will leave you with a quote and some song lyrics.

"Slay anger and you will be happy, slay anger and you will not sorrow. For the slaying of anger in all its forms with its poisoned root and sweet sting- that is the slaying the nobles praise; with anger slain one weeps no more."

I have professed my love of Dean Martin enough, that lyrics from one of his songs shouldn't be a surprise, so here you go.

Everybody Loves Somebody

Everybody loves somebody sometime
Everybody falls in love somehow
Something in your kiss just told me
That sometime is now

Everybody finds somebody someplace
There's no telling where love may appear
Something in my heart keeps saying
My someplace is here

If I had it in my power
I'd arrange for every girl to have your charms
Then every minute, every hour
Everybody would find what I found in your arms

Everybody loves somebody sometime
And though my dreams were overdue
Your love made it all worth waiting
For someone like you

If I had it in my power
I'd arrange for every girl to have your charms
Then every minute, every hour
Everybody would find what I found in your arms

Everybody loves somebody sometime
And though my dreams were overdue
Your love made it all worth waiting
For someone like you

Much Love!

The times, they are a-changing!

So I have been really busy, but I am hoping to get back here tomorrow to blog!

Much Love to All!

we have faux fags...

If you want to know more about my subject title, feel free to ask me or Hillary...hehe.

Lots of things running through this krazy head of mine. Not liking a lot of it, but it's there for a reason.

Metta goes out to Becky and Ryan, his mother passed away. And to those who are close to Chief Justice William Renhquist.

Also, please please please if you can donate to The American Red Cross.

Here is a song that I really like/love and so here are the lyrics for you to read/enjoy

Brass In Pocket

Got brass in pocket
Got bottle I’m gonna use it
Intention I feel inventive
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice

Got motion restrained emotion
Been driving detroit leaning
No reason just seems so pleasing
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice

(chorus)

Gonna use my arms
Gonna use my legs
Gonna use my style
Gonna use my sidestep
Gonna use my fingers
Gonna use my, my, my imagination

’cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here
No one like me
I’m special so special
I gotta have some of your attention give it to me

Got rhythm I can’t miss a beat
Got new skank it’s so reet
Got something I’m winking at you
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice

(chorus)

’cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here
No one like me
I’m special, so special
I gotta have some of your attention
Give it to me
’cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here
No one like me
I’m special, so special
I gotta have some of your attention

Give it to me

Much Love!

Randomness

"Good are friends when need arises; good is contentment with just what one has; good is merit when life is at an end, and good is the abandoning of all suffering."

I know this whole not craving/aversion thing is what will bring me out of suffering, but man is it hard work! I am trying to accept things as they are and just be aware of things around me and not hurting myself or others, but oy. OY.

Anywho. I think Eric and I are going to go to the Foo Fighters/Weezer concert at U of I. Kaiser Chiefs I believe are opening for them so that will be an all-around excellent show! Hillary and I are tentatively planning on Ben Folds with The Fray. They go on sale next week sometime. And still deciding on Wilco. I have been listening to them a lot this week and it sure is tempting to just buy a ticket for myself and go. At this moment I don't really care if I go by myself because I am sure it will be a very good show. But of course these things cost money and with the price of gasoline and of course with the disaster down South, I want to donate money to Red Cross to help out, because I can't physically go down and help (time/money and taking the risk of being in serious danger). If anyone can help out, please do.

And I bought the Etta James cd at Starbucks. Well worth the money (with my discount of course=D)

So here are some lyrics I felt like posting.

My Dearest Darling

All I need
Is someone like you
My dearest darling
Please love me too

Within my heart
I pray your answer's 'yes'
I'll make your life
Full of happiness

Whenever you need me
I'll be there by your side
Oh, I'd pledge my love to you
With heart as our guide

Oh, nothing, nothing, nothing in this world
Can keep us apart
Ooh, my dearest darling
I offer you my heart

Oh yeah, whenever you need me
I'll, I'll be there by your side
Oh, I'll pledge my love to you
With heart as our guide

Oh, nothing, nothing, nothing in this world
Can keep us apart
Ooh, my dearest darling
I'm offering you my heart
Ooh, my dearest darling
My, my dearest darling

Have a good weekend!